6 1 2 On the Effeols of Terra Ponderoja. 



them erroneous, yet the fubjeft feemed well 

 worthy of a nearer inveftigation. For as Poi- 

 fons, when properly adminiftered, are generally 

 cfteemed the moil efficacious remedies, and as 

 combinations of the Terra Ponderofa had already 

 been exhibited, it appeared defirable to trace, 

 upon inferior animals, the efFefts of a fubftance 

 which promifed to be of importance to the health 

 of mankind J at any rate, it was adding one fad 

 more to our knowledge, to become thus ac- 

 quainted with its pernicious efFeds. To this 

 purpofe I inftituted the following experiments. 



Experiment I. At four o'clock in the after- 

 noon I gave a Terrier bitch, weighing about 

 thirteen pounds, which had been without food 

 that day, one drachm of Aerated Barytes, finely 

 pounded and ftrewed upon fome broiled beef, to 

 induce her to take it. The firft half hour it did 

 not appear to produce any effedt. At five o'clock 

 fhe began to froth at the mouth and to be (lightly 

 convulfed; Ihe drank a little water, but appeared 

 very lethargic. Between five and fix o'clock 

 fhe was violently purged, and vomited a quantity 

 of whitilh curdled matter, after which fhe became 

 extremely weak and languid ; fhe ftill continued 

 to froth at the mouth, and refufed water, though 

 without any figns of averfion. From fix to feven 

 o'clock, her debility kept gradually increafing, 

 until a complete Paralyfis took place : fhe lay 

 extended, entirely deprived of the command of 



her 



